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Review: Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller (Blog Tour)

Feb19

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller (Blog Tour)Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller
Published by Feiwel & Friends on February 26, 2019
Pages: 336
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

How do you kill a god?

As her father's chosen heir, eighteen-year-old Rasmira has trained her whole life to become a warrior and lead her village. But when her coming-of-age trial is sabotaged and she fails the test, her father banishes her to the monster-filled wilderness with an impossible quest: to win back her honour, she must kill the oppressive god who claims tribute from the villages each year or die trying.

 
Hey, everyone! I’m SO excited to be on the blog tour for Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller (February 26, 2019 – Feiwel & Friends)! Without further adieu, here’s my review!

~*~*~

Tricia Levenseller went on my Auto Buy List after I read and LOVED both Daughter of the Pirate King and Daughter of the Siren Queen. Warrior of the Wild did NOT disappoint. It was a fun, epic adventure with amazing characters and an intriguing world.

Rasmira was strong, brave and stubborn. Being sent into the Wild was the best thing that could have happened to her. It was meant as a punishment, but she learned so much about herself, the people she thought she knew and loved, and the world around her. Her character growth from beginning to end was INCREDIBLE.

I 1000% adored Soren and Iric – both as individuals and as friends. I don’t want to say too much, but I loved how their story ended. I loved Iric’s growth, especially. He went from being gruff and sarcastic to cheeky and hilarious. I absolutely adored him and Aros! I also loved the way Soren and Iric fought like bickering old ladies. It reminded me of Angel and Spike (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer), as well as Jeb and Morpheus (from Splintered by A.G. Howard).

I truly loved the dynamic between Rasmira, Soren and Iric. It’s a little bit hard to talk about that dynamic without spoilers, but oh man, I just absolutely adored them together.

Now let’s talk about the villain… Peruxolo didn’t scare me. From very early on, I had major suspicions and questions. And I WAS RIGHT!!!! *Clears throat.* That’s all I’ll say about that… But really, I don’t think he was the true villain of the story.. If you’ve read it, you guys KNOW who the true villain was. Well, not so much a “villain” as a back-stabbing asshole. But I can’t name names without spoiling a major plot twist, so I’ll just sit here and stew about it while you guys GO AND READ IT AND SEE WHAT I MEAN!

I know some people are tired of new releases being compared to big books like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Twilight, etc. But I SERIOUSLY had major Hunger Games feels throughout this entire book, with a few stand-out moments. One of the biggest moments? Irrenia asking Rasmira, “You will try, won’t you? … To complete your quest … You have to come home to me.” This moment STRONGLY reminded me of Prim begging Katniss to win and come home to her. Another thing that gave me major THG vibes? The Ziken. They reminded me of the creatures at the end of THG. And Rasmira worrying they would attack her while trying to fall asleep in the woods reminded me of Katniss worrying about falling asleep in the woods, wary of the fact that there were Tributes hunting her.

Overall, I absolutely 100% adored this book. I’m VERY excited to see what Tricia Levenseller does next! Her characters are incredible, her worlds are lush and imaginative, and her plot twists are EPIC. This book had me laughing out loud, gasping in shock, and grinning like an absolute idiot. It’ll run you through an emotional rollercoaster, and you’ll love every minute of it!

I HIGHLY recommend this book to those who enjoyed Daughter of the Pirate King and Daughter of the Siren Queen. Also, to those who enjoyed The Hunger Games. Because seriously, SO many THG vibes!!

four-stars

Review: Archenemies by Marissa Meyer

Dec20

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Archenemies by Marissa MeyerArchenemies by Marissa Meyer
Series: Renegades #2
Published by Feiwel & Friends on November 6, 2018
Pages: 471
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Time is running out. Together, they can save the world. But are they each other's worst nightmare?

Nova's double life is about to get a lot more complicated:

As Insomnia, she is a full-fledged member of the Renegades, a syndicate of powerful and beloved superheroes. She works with Adrian's patrol unit to protect the weak and maintain order in Gatlon City.

As Nightmare, she is an Anarchist—a group of villains who are determined to destroy the Renegades. Nova wants vengeance against the so-called heroes who once failed her when she needed them the most.

But as Nova, her feelings for Adrian are deepening, despite the fact that he is the son of her sworn enemies and, unbeknownst to Nova, he has some dangerous secrets of his own.

In this second installment of the Renegades trilogy, Nova, Adrian, and the rest of their crew—Ruby, Oscar, and Danna—are faced with escalating crime in Gatlon City, while covert weapons and conflicting missions have Nova and Adrian questioning not only their beliefs about justice but also the feelings they have for each other.

The line between good and evil has been blurred, but what's clear to them both is that too much power could mean the end of their City—and the world—as they know it.

I don’t think there are words adequate enough to describe my love for this series. After reading this book, I can say with 100% certainty that this is my favorite Marissa Meyer series – which, for those who know me and know how much I LOVE fairy tale retellings, you know that’s saying a LOT because I really loved The Lunar Chronicles. But the Renegades series is just absolute gold. The characters are some of my favorite characters ever. The plot is intriguing and exciting. And I’m BEYOND excited that there’s a third book because two definitely would NOT have been enough.

Nova is, without a doubt, my favorite book villain ever. She’s spunky and fierce and I love everything about her. Like I mentioned in my review of Renegades, when I picture Nova in my head, I picture Mal from the Descendants movie, purple hair and all. I love everything about Nightmare – her powers, her background – even just the name Nightmare and the feelings it evokes.

Adrian was awesome, once again. Adrian’s secret is on the cusp of unraveling and I’m getting anxious for certain people to find out. I love him and Nova so much, I’m terrified for when the truth – about both of them – is revealed because I NEED them to be endgame.

Now I have to be vague because spoilers BUT… Some absolutely incredible/terrifying/shocking/holy crap things happened in this book, and the majority of them kept me on the edge of my seat. And some of the things that DIDN’T happen frustrated me – but in a good way!! There were a couple things that I was positive would happen in this book, but I guess Marissa Meyer is saving them for the finale. I guess that just means book three is going to give me a freaking heart attack!!!!! AND THE WAIT FOR BOOK THREE IS WAYYYYY TOOOO LONGGGG!!!!!!

I don’t really know what else to say. This review doesn’t do this book justice AT ALL. But to be honest, I was enjoying it so much, I sorta forgot to take better review notes – I was just too captivated and enthralled by the story to stop to make note of things as I read them. So all I can say is READ THIS BOOK – THIS SERIES – ASAP BECAUSE IT’S AMAZING AND WILL MESS WITH YOU IN THE BEST WAY!

*Clears Throat.*

I mean, I don’t think I even need to say how much I recommend this book – i would hope it’s obvious. But, just in case it’s not, I seriously highly recommend this book. If you’ve read Marissa Meyer’s other books, you’ll love it! And if you haven’t read anything by her, I recommend picking this series up first! Also, if you’re a fan of superheroes and villains, this one is definitely for you!

five-stars

Guest Review: Girls Can’t Hit by T.S. Easton

May20

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Guest Review: Girls Can’t Hit by T.S. EastonGirls Can't Hit by T.S. Easton
Series: Boys Don't Knit #3
Published by Feiwel & Friends on April 18, 2017
Pages: 288
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
three-stars

A funny, feminist teen story about knowing when to train . . . and when to fight.

Fleur Waters never takes anything seriously - until she turns up at her local boxing club one day, just to prove a point. She's the only girl there, and the warm-up alone is exhausting . . . but the workout gives her an escape from home and school, and when she lands her first uppercut on a punching bag she feels a rare glow of satisfaction. So she goes back the next week, determined to improve.

Fleur's overprotective mum can't abide the idea of her entering a boxing ring, why won't she join her pilates class instead? Her friends don't get it either and even her boyfriend, 'Prince' George, seems concerned by her growing muscles and appetite - but it's Fleur's body, Fleur's life, so she digs her heels in and carries on with her training. When she finally makes it into the ring, her friends and family show their support and Fleur realises that sometimes in life it's better to drop your guard and take a wild swing!

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Jessica here with a guest review for Girls Can’t Hit by T.S. Easton

You can find Jessica on Books 4 Jessica and on Twitter!

Without further adieu, here’s Jessica’s review! Enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~

I am usually a fan of YA sport books, especially when it involves women in sports. Or at the very least the sports YA books I have read have been pretty good for the most part. However, I have to say Girls Can’t Hit did not exactly pack the punch (you see what I did there) I was expecting. This isn’t to say the book is completely bad, but maybe it just wasn’t as interesting as I was hoping it’d be.

T.S. Easton’s Girls Can’t Hit is the story of Fleur Waters, a young woman living in the UK who is tired of her parents fighting, her mother’s overprotectiveness, and so many other things in her life. So when she visits a boxing club in her area and decides to take it up, despite her mom and traditional boyfriend’s protest, she stars to enjoy herself. Not only that, this new sport may be exactly what Fleur never knew she needed.

Let me begin with the good. I did like when the author delved into Fleur’s backstory and some of her life outside of boxing. While I didn’t enjoy all of it, I really especially enjoyed Fleur’s complicated relationship with her parents. How we get to see the struggles inside her family and how boxing makes that more complicated is a treat to read. I also really enjoyed Fluer’s friends and seeing her relationship with them. Both Pip and Blossom are interesting characters that really shined in their personalities, especially Blossom as she is a very feminist character.

The second thing I really liked in this book were the messages. There is a strong feminist theme throughout the book regarding women and boxing. However, there are also discussions of feminism and what it means to be a feminist all sprinkled throughout the book. Something I really appreciated was the discussion of how being a feminist can be different for different people and there isn’t just one way to do it. Blossom is a character who goes to marches and is very passionate in her activism through debating, petitioning, and fighting on a larger and wider scale with traditional activism tactics. Fluer is also a feminist, but contributes to her activism by researching about female boxers and trying to make boxing a more inclusive places for women. It may be a more niche approach, but it is still a feminist movement and cause either way you look at it. Both girls are feminist and both do what they can to help spread a message of equality & anti-patriarchy.

Finally, I really liked seeing Fleur’s passion and effort involving boxing. While some of the boxing scenes were parts that I feel are better seen than read about, the parts involving seeing Fleur train in a variety of ways and work hard to get better were what I really enjoyed. We get to see Fleur train more and more as the book goes on and learn more about boxing, especially when it comes to women in boxing. I really appreciated seeing the character development of Fleur and even learning more about a sport I don’t know too much about along with our main character.

Now onto some things that got me discouraged. There were only two, but they did cause me to rate this book a few stars lower than I wanted to.

The first is the battle scenes. The battle reenactment scenes were not very interesting or intriguing in the slightest. I really did not care for them and the character arc with Pip involving the battles was pretty dull and not something I really cared for.

The second thing was the actual boxing scenes. While I have enjoyed the sports books I read in the past, I don’t recall many of them going into so much detail about the actual games or practices. Or at least not in so much dry detail. I do like sports YA books & wish there were more female lead sports books. However, the actual scenes involving any fights and some of the technicalities involving the training were just not grabbing me as much as I hoped they would. It is similar to watching a comic book show and wanting to like the fight scenes, but finding the more emotional and character driven parts more epic. This isn’t to say that I don’t think any kind of action scenes are bad or not intriguing, it just may be that in this case with this book it wasn’t my cup of tea. Which I do find sad because I should really enjoy the actual fight scenes in a book involving boxing, but just could not get into them. There may be another reader out here who can, but just not this reader.

Overall, this was a decent story with a unique premise, interesting characters, and good development/arcs. I sadly couldn’t get into some of the story involving the battle scenes and physical fight scenes, but I don’t think that makes this a bad book. I think this book is one that would especially entertain YA sports fans, boxing lovers, and feminist alike. I still recommend this story to readers and even though it wasn’t as good as I was hoping it would be, that doesn’t make it a bad book or something not worth checking out.

three-stars

Review: Renegades by Marissa Meyer

May7

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Renegades by Marissa MeyerRenegades by Marissa Meyer
Series: Renegades #1
Published by Feiwel & Friends on November 7, 2017
Pages: 556
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

From #1 New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer, comes a high-stakes world of adventure, passion, danger, and betrayal.

Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies — humans with extraordinary abilities — who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone... except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice — and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.

HOLY WOW WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO READ THIS WONDERFUL EPIC AMAZING BOOK?!?!?!?!?! This book absolutely just blew my mind!! Like, I’m a HUGE fan of the Lunar Chronicles series, but I’m 98% sure I enjoyed Renegades more than any other Marissa Meyer book I’ve ever read. It was just complete and utter perfection. I loved the writing, the characters, the plot, everything about this book. I have few – if any – complaints, to be honest. So get ready for a gushing review because I’m gonna gush and ramble and I’ll attempt to keep it spoiler free, but no promises.

I LOVED LOVED LOVED Nova. Like, one of my favorite “villains” ever. She was spunky and fierce, and I loved everything about her Anarchist persona, Nightmare. Her powers, her background – even just the name Nightmare and the feelings it evokes. When I pictured her in my head, I pictured Mal from the Descendants movie, purple hair and all. I 1000% loved the idea of the amusement park being Nightmare’s stomping ground/hide-out, even if it actually wasn’t. It just felt very fitting for the character.

I also really loved Adrian. I loved the way he created The Sentinel as a way to prove himself. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I loved him as Sketch. Sketch’s powers are very cool and VERY useful. But I loved that the superhero had a secret identity, haha.

Right off the bat, I loved the idea of Nova and Adrian being potential love interests – very Romeo & Juliet. How much more star-crossed can you get than superhero versus supervillain? I seriously can’t wait to see what happens when their secrets are revealed to each other – it’s gonna be CRAZY!!!

Another fun Disney comparison? The Detonator reminded me of a weird combination of Shego from Kim Possible and Harley Quinn from the Suicide Squad movie. Also, I KNOW we weren’t supposed to like her, but I kind of did. Like, I hated her for some of the crap she pulled, but I was also intrigued by her and wanted to know more about her, her background, etc.

I absolutely loved Hugh (Captain Chromium) and Simon (The Dread Warden). I loved them individually as people AND I loved their superhero personas. I also LOVED them as a couple – they were so cute together! TBH, this book had a LOT of ships and I want ALL of them to sail or I’ll be SUPER upset!!!

I could talk about each character in this book individually because I have something to say about all of them, but I honestly just loved them all. I loved Adrian’s team the most, of course. I was intrigued by the fact that some of the Renegades weren’t actually the good guys – they SHOULD have been villains, but they somehow became “heroes.” It’s going to be very interesting, especially going forward – if there REALLY is a huge “Renegade versus Anarchist” battle brewing, which side will these wayward Renegades be on…?

The ending was effing INSANE for SO many reasons. I may have discussed minor spoilers throughout my review, but I’ll steer clear of major spoilers and just say OMFG WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?!??! But also I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I SERIOUSLY CANNOT wait for book two! I NEED it in my hands NOW!!! I can’t wait to see what happens next. I know I said (above) that I can’t wait to see what happens when Nova’s and Adrian’s secrets are revealed to each other, but I especially can’t wait to see Adrian’s reaction when Nova’s secret is revealed…!!!!!

So… I mean, yeah. This review didn’t do this book justice. I just loved it so much, it’s hard to put it into words. This review was probably a ramble-filled mess and completely unprofessional and maybe didn’t make a lot of sense. But, like, just read the book. That’s the bottom line. It’s SOOOO GOOD!! Seriously.

five-stars

Review: To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

Mar15

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra ChristoTo Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
Published by Feiwel & Friends on March 6, 2018
Pages: 342
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

To Kill a Kingdom was dark, brutal, and haunting. I’ve seen this book described as many things, but two descriptions stand out the most to me: “a dark Little Mermaid retelling” and “Daughter of the Pirate King meets Language of Thorns.” Now, while I haven’t read Language of Thorns yet (I know, I know – I’m SUPER behind), I can 100% see these comparisons. And I’m 100% here for both. This world that Alexandra Christo created was like nothing I’ve ever read, and it was just incredible.

I LOVED Lira. She was fierce and brutal and unapologetic. I loved her relationship with Kahlia, and the way their bond brought out the humanity in Lira. She had incredible character growth throughout the book, and I loved the way her story ended.

I absolutely adored Elian! He was hilarious and cocky, and so sure of himself when he was on the sea. Like Lira, he had a pretty epic journey, as far as character growth went. And also like with Lira, I loved the way his story ended.

I 100% shipped Lira and Elian, even while thinking, “wow, these two are brutal and unrelenting in their missions… how can this possibly end well??” I loved their banter and the progression of their relationship. Going back to the Daughter of the Pirate King/Siren Queen comparison, I would compare their relationship and banter with that of Alosa and Riden. SO MANY FEELS!! And I loved the ending of the book sooooo much. I don’t think it could have ended any other way, and I think it ended the best way it could. It made sense for both characters.

The Sea Queen in this was absolutely, 100% pure evil. She had no redeeming qualities. And.. I kind of liked that, honestly. Don’t get me wrong, I love villain origin stories and villain retellings. I love seeing the villain’s side of the story, and seeing how they came to be the villain. But sometimes, having the villain just be the villain is necessary. In this case, it was very necessary and absolute perfection.

Other characters that deserve a mention are the members of Elian’s crew: Torik, Kye and Madrid. I loved their fierce loyalty to Elian, and found their different reactions to Lira intriguing.

The only major issue I had was that this book had a dual POV (which I didn’t know) and the US ARC didn’t warn you when the POV was switching. In the beginning, I found that very confusing. But after a few chapters, I could tell who was who by the voice and context. Some authors don’t manage dual POVs well, and it all sounds like the same character. But Alexandra Christo did a great job of giving Lira and Elian different voices.

Overall, if you couldn’t tell by my fangirly review, I really loved this book. I HIGHLY recommend it for fans of pirates, sirens, shippy banter and high-seas adventures.

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Favorite Quote:
“Technically, I’m a murderer, but I like to think that’s one of my better qualities.” (Normally I note who the quote is from, but it might be a spoiler so I’m not going to this time. Also, in my opinion, it can work for both main characters).

five-stars

Review: Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller

Feb20

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia LevensellerDaughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller
Series: Daughter of the Pirate King #2
Published by Feiwel & Friends on February 27, 2018
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Alosa's mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, first mate Riden is a constant distraction, but now he's under her orders. And she takes great comfort in knowing that the villainous Vordan will soon be facing her father's justice.

When Vordan exposes a secret her father has kept for years, Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race with the feared Pirate King. Despite the danger, Alosa knows they will recover the treasure first . . . after all, she is the daughter of the Siren Queen.

I loved loved LOVED this book! It was just as good as the first book, if not better. I love this cast of characters and this world, and I’m sad to say goodbye. But I enjoyed going on this adventure with them so much – it’s hard to even put my thoughts and feelings into words.

Alosa was suuuper stubborn in the beginning, and I kinda wanted to smack the silly out of her at times, but I still adored her. I LOVED seeing more of her Siren side in this book. I wish we could have seen more yet, but it was still very cool.

Riden was just as adorable and cocky and hilarious in this book as the first. He went through a LOT of conflict and character growth, and I’m really happy with where his story ended.

I still shipped Alosa and Riden hard, but I wanted to see more of their relationship. I’m very satisfied with where things ended for them, don’t get me wrong – it holds the promise of more. But I wanted to SEE the “more.”

Two of my favorite secondary characters were Niridia and Mandsy. They’re kick-ass pirates and loyal friends. And they had some hilarious lines/moments.

The deaths in this book hit me like a punch to the gut. These characters are so incredible and so real that I felt their deaths just as deeply as Alosa did.

The writing definitely improved from book one to book two. As I mentioned in my review of the first book, the writing in Daughter of the Pirate King was a bit stilted and awkward. There was a LOT of improvement in Daughter of the Siren Queen.

The ending was sooooooo satisfying. I’m still sad to be leaving this world and these characters, but it was an incredible ending. I can’t wait to see what Tricia Levenseller does next!

I HIGHLY recommend this book to those who enjoyed the first book – you WON’T be disappointed with this incredible sequel! I’d also recommend it to those who love all things sirens, pirates (in general), Pirates of the Carribean, and kick-ass female heroines.

five-stars

Review: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Feb9
Review: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia LevensellerDaughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller
Series: Daughter of the Pirate King #1
Published by Feiwel & Friends on February 28, 2017
Pages: 308
Format: Hardcover
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

There will be plenty of time for me to beat him soundly once I’ve gotten what I came for.

Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map—the key to a legendary treasure trove—seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship.

More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate, Riden. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few tricks up her sleeve, and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.

I HATE myself for not reading this incredible book sooner! It was EPIC BEYOND WORDS! The plot and world were intriguing and entertaining. The characters were amazing – some of my favorite characters ever!!! I loved them and their relationships SO MUCH. So this review will mostly be about how epic they were.

Alosa was SO sassy. She has a fiery temper and a very sarcastic, dry sense of humor. She’s witty and clever and strong and stubborn and I could go on and on. She’s definitely ranking up there with Feyre, Alina, Celaena, Inej, Audrey Rose and – most recently – Odessa.

Riden was ridiculously hilarious, arrogant and cocky. I don’t think we were supposed to like or trust him in the beginning, but I 100% adored him from the second we met him.

I ship Alosa and Riden so hard, I can’t even put it into words. They are, without a doubt, in my Top Five Favorite Couples list, right up there with Feyre & Rhys, Alyssa & Morpheus, and Audrey Rose & Creswell. Their hilarious banter was absolute my favorite part of the book. I LIVED for the sass and snarl of their back-and-forth’s.

I really liked Enwen, even though we probably weren’t supposed to, since he was “with the enemy.” But he was kinder than some of the other pirates, and smarter than he let on. Plus, him being so superstitious was kinda cute.

Other characters I loved who deserve honorable mentions: Niridia, Mandsy, Sorinda, Zimah.

And then there’s the bad guys.. Man, did I despise Draxen and his crew (excluding Riden and Enwen, of course). And Theris and Vordan were EVIL beyond words. I’m still conflicted on how I feel about the Pirate King, though. He’s obviously not a nice guy, but there was something about him… I kind of want to learn more about him and his past. I can’t explain why, it’s just a weird feeling I have about him.

The only negative I encountered with this book was the writing. At times, it felt a bit stilted and awkward, but it wasn’t enough to be annoying or affect my enjoyment of the book. And I enjoyed literally everything else about this book, so it’s still a 5-star read!

So, yeah.. Overall, I loved this book SO MUCH, I’m sure my review was a babble-fest of fangirl. I could really kick myself for not reading it sooner, except now I have the sequel in my possession and can binge them soooooo, maybe things DO happen for a reason!

I definitely highly recommend this book for fans of pirates (in general), Pirates of the Carribean, and kick-ass female heroines. I’m anxious to see what will happen to these beloved characters in the next book! And I can’t wait to see what Tricia Levenseller writes in the future!!!

five-stars

Guest Review: Ally by Anna Banks

Nov5

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Guest Review: Ally by Anna BanksAlly by Anna Banks
Series: Nemesis #2
Published by Feiwel & Friends on October 3, 2017
Pages: 320
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Princess Sepora of Serubel and King Tarik of Theoria have formed an uneasy truce between their kingdoms since the deadly plague began to rip through Theoria. Since their feelings for each other are entangled in politics and power, they must use their own trusted resources to find common ground.

But when traitors with powerful allies arise from unexpected places, Tarik and Sepora face challenges that will change both of their kingdoms forever. Will they learn whom to trust—including each other—in time to save their kingdoms, their relationship and even their lives?

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Lissa here with a guest review for Ally by Anna Banks!

You can find Lissa on Twitter!

Without further adieu, here’s Lissa’s review! Enjoy!

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Ally picks up right where we left off in Nemesis (and thank goodness, because I was dying to know what happened next!) As we left our hero and heroine together but not, the story focuses on both their continued relationship struggles and the external political and societal issues. Sepora’s parents come into play in a big way and Sethos’ role increases as well.

There were plenty of swoonworthy and a few sob worthy moments and I was completely invested throughout the whole book. (I read it in nearly one sitting. If only I didn’t need sleep!) There were several twists and turns to keep you on your toes as well.

I will say that I almost want to take a star or half a star off for the new cover. I hate it. If Nemesis had a similar cover when it first came out, I may have skipped it (or waited a really long time to read it) because this cover is boring and unattractive. Luckily, I was already heavily invested in this world and a fan of the author’s writing, so the cover became irrelevant.

But the ending was completely satisfying with a heartwarming epilogue. Highly recommended for fantasy fans, and lovers of great characters. I look forward to seeing what Anna Banks will write next.

five-stars

Guest Review: Nemesis by Anna Banks

Nov4

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Guest Review: Nemesis by Anna BanksNemesis by Anna Banks
Series: Nemesis #1
Published by Feiwel & Friends on October 4, 2016
Pages: 359
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Princess Sepora of Serubel is the last Forger in all the five kingdoms. The spectorium she creates provides energy for all, but now her father has found a way to weaponize it, and his intentions to incite war force her to flee his grasp. She escapes across enemy lines into the kingdom of Theoria, but her plans to hide are thwarted when she is captured and placed in the young king’s servitude.

Tarik has just taken over rulership of Theoria, and must now face a new plague sweeping through his kingdom and killing his citizens. The last thing he needs is a troublesome servant vying for his attention. But Mistress Sepora will not be ignored. When the two finally meet face-to-face, they form an unlikely bond that complicates life in ways neither of them could have imagined.

Sepora's gift may be able to save Tarik’s kingdom. But should she risk exposing herself and her growing feelings for her nemesis?

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Lissa here with a guest review for Nemesis by Anna Banks!

You can find Lissa on Twitter!

Without further adieu, here’s Lissa’s review! Enjoy!

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As a long-standing fantasy fan and an extremely character driven reader Nemesis hit all the right buttons with me for a fabulous read.

First up we have a well-developed fantasy world with an interesting blend of magic and science. There is some basis in an Egyptian landscape/society, but it is largely cosmetic. There is extensive world building that makes it the author’s own.

Then you have the characters. Sepora is spunky, and opinionated, and caring and courageous and I adore her. Tarik is at once bemused by and attracted to her spirit and secrets. In addition to his rapport with Sepora, Tarik has his own trials and growth as a character. The supporting characters are well developed and add to the plot and development of the main characters without being blunt cardboard stereotypes.

Plus I am a sucker for animal sidekicks. And both MCs have their furry or not so furry friends.
The stakes in this series are legitimate and unambiguous, with real consequences and moral dilemmas handled realistically by all parties, without being overtly preachy.

Perfect for fantasy fans and lovers of independent minded characters and witty banter. I eagerly await the next book.

five-stars

Guest Review: Lailah by Nikki Kelly

Nov12

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Guest Review: Lailah by Nikki KellyLailah by Nikki Kelly
Series: The Styclar Saga #1
Published by Feiwel & Friends on October 7, 2014
Pages: 416
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
two-half-stars

Over one million Wattpad readers have made Lailah a sensation!

The girl knows she’s different. She doesn’t age. She has no family. She has visions of a past life, but no clear clues as to what she is, or where she comes from. But there is a face in her dreams – a light that breaks through the darkness. She knows his name is Gabriel.

On her way home from work, the girl encounters an injured stranger whose name is Jonah. Soon, she will understand that Jonah belongs to a generation of Vampires that serve even darker forces. Jonah and the few like him, are fighting with help from an unlikely Allie – a rogue Angel, named Gabriel.

In the crossfire between good and evil, love and hate, and life and death, the girl learns her name: Lailah. But when the lines between black and white begin to blur, where in the spectrum will she find her place? And with whom?

Gabriel and Jonah both want to protect her. But Lailah will have to fight her own battle to find out who she truly is.

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Cas here with a guest review for Lailah by Nikki Kelly.

You can find Cas on Checkmate Reads and on Twitter!

Without further adieu, here’s Cas’s review! Enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~

Alright, so where should I start with this one? It definitely felt like been there, done that. I really really wanted to like Lailah, I did. Sadly, I couldn’t. Everything just felt like another rift off of Fallen and Twilight. I love books about vampires and angels, so that wasn’t my real problem with the book. The paper characters and love triangle are probably what killed this whole book for me.

Let’s start with Lailah, shall we? I wanted to like her because how cool is it to remember parts of your past lives! She just seemed to me to be too flaky and materialistic for me. She was more worried about going shopping than she was trying to figure stuff out. When a conflict would arise, she would run before trying to sort out a better solution. Very disappointed in that aspect of our heroine. She just was not super relatable to me, and I need a stronger female character than what Lailah provided for me. I’ll fight for Aelin over Lailah anyday!

Ugh, so with any YA book about vampires and angels what else are we missing? A love triangle! Oh joy, more reasons for Lailah to not have her act together. So introduce Jonah, a bad boy vampire, and Gabriel, the ever overly attractive love of all my past lives main angel. Between these three and everyone else trying to get in on this love mess, it really starts to detract from what’s left of the plot. I would just like to put out a PSA that stalkers are not someone you want in your life, run away from them as soon as possible. Don’t let them in your bedrooms! YA tends to overly romanticize bad boys a bit too much, and I felt that Jonah crosses the line to way too creepy. Gabriel is just a jerk.

There was way too much insta-love for me. I prefer to see the relationship blossom and grow into something magical, like Hazel and Gus. I am a huge fan of angels and demons/vampires, and was a bit disappointed in the whole side dimension, not real heaven and hell type thing. Don’t use Angels if you’re afraid of also writing about the existence or absence of God.

I don’t seem myself reading the rest of the series, unless someone thinks that I’m missing out and it’s gotten way better! I do believe in book second chances. But for right now, I’m not super pleased. It sounds like the author had some good ideas, but the execution was not there. Definitely a better story if it’s just for Wattpad.

I would like to thank Meredith for sending me this ARC. I didn’t like it as well as I wanted to, but I’m at least owning up to that. I had such high hopes for this book. Just because I didn’t like it, doesn’t mean that someone else won’t. If you loved Lailah, I’m not dissing you or saying that you have bad taste in books, just that we have different preferences! If you loved it, then that’s great for you. Keep reading! I think I’ve ranted enough for now. :)

two-half-stars